<B>mechanism, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a machine or its working parts. <BR> <I>Ex. the mechanism of a watch. Something is wrong with the mechanism of our refrigerator. An automobile engine is a complex mechanism.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>a system of parts working together as the parts of a machine do. <BR> <I>Ex. The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>the means or way by which something is done; machinery. <BR> <I>Ex. The mechanism of human speech, (Figurative.) the ancient mechanisms of the law grinding toward justice.</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>the mechanical part; technique, as in painting or music. <DD><B> 5. </B>(Psychology.) <DD><B> a. </B>the arrangements in the mind or brain that determine thought, feeling, or action in regular and predictable ways. <DD><B> b. </B>a response unconsciously selected to protect oneself or find satisfaction for an unfulfilled desire. <BR> <I>Ex. a defense mechanism.</I> <DD><B> 6. </B>(Philosophy.) the theory that everything in the universe is produced and can be explained by mechanical or material forces. <BR> <I>Ex. the influence of mechanism and materialism in science (Science News).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="mechanist">
<B>mechanist, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a person who believes in the philosophical theory of mechanism. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Archaic.) a mechanic. <DD><I>adj. </I> mechanistic. <BR> <I>Ex. mechanist philosophy.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="mechanistic">
<B>mechanistic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>of or having to do with mechanics or mechanical theories. <BR> <I>Ex. We may regard Newton's laws of motion as the supreme model of mechanistic determinism (Scientific American).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>of or having to do with the belief that everything in the universe is produced by and can be explained by mechanical or material forces. adv. <B>mechanistically.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="mechanize">
<B>mechanize, </B>transitive verb, <B>-nized,</B> <B>-nizing.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>to do by machinery, rather than by hand. <BR> <I>Ex. Much housework can be mechanized.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>to replace men or animals by machinery in (a business or other enterprise). <BR> <I>Ex. to mechanize a factory.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>to make mechanical. <BR> <I>Ex. Raphael paints wisdom; Handel sings it, ... Shakespeare writes it, ... Watt mechanizes it (Emerson).</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>to equip (a military unit) with armored vehicles, tanks, and other machines. adj. <B>mechanizable.</B> noun <B>mechanization.</B> noun <B>mechanizer.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="mechanocardiography">
<B>mechanocardiography, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a method of measuring the rate at which blood is pumped from the heart by the use of an electrocardiograph and X ray. </DL>
<A NAME="mechanochemical">
<B>mechanochemical, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with mechanochemistry. </DL>
<A NAME="mechanochemistry">
<B>mechanochemistry, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the study of the means by which chemical substances can be used to produce mechanical energy. </DL>
<A NAME="mechanomorphic">
<B>mechanomorphic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with mechanomorphism. <BR> <I>Ex. mechanomorphic psychology.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="mechanomorphism">
<B>mechanomorphism, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> any doctrine or theory that conceives of or explains something only in mechanistic terms. </DL>
<A NAME="mechanoreception">
<B>mechanoreception, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> response to mechanical stimuli by a sense organ. <BR> <I>Ex. the mechanoreception of chordotonal organs.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="mechanoreceptor">
<B>mechanoreceptor, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a sense organ that responds to mechanical stimuli. </DL>
<A NAME="mechanotherapist">
<B>mechanotherapist, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a person who is skilled in or performs mechanotherapy. </DL>
<A NAME="mechanotherapy">
<B>mechanotherapy, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> therapy by mechanical means, as for relieving muscle stiffness. <BR> <I>Ex. Mechanotherapy includes gymnastics and massage (W. W. Bauer).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="mechant">
<B>mechant, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (French.) malicious; mischievous; naughty. <BR> <I>Ex. Mr. Pendennis was wicked, mechant, perfectly abominable (Thackeray).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="mechante">
<B>mechante, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> (French.) the feminine form of <B>mechant.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="mechatronics">
<B>mechatronics, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the design, manufacture, and use of miniaturized components in electronic circuits. <BR> <I>Ex. Mechatronics ... combines the potentialities of mechanical and electronic engineering (Japan Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="mechlin">
<B>Mechlin, </B>noun, or <B>Mechlin lace,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a fine lace with the pattern clearly outlined by a distinct thread; malines. </DL>
<A NAME="meclizine">
<B>meclizine, </B>noun. <B>=Bonine.</B></DL>
<A NAME="meco">
<B>MECO, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the point in a space flight when the main engine of a spacecraft is shut down. <BR> <I>Ex. Columbia is now steering for its precise window in space for MECO (New York Times).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="meconic">
<B>meconic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or derived from the poppy. </DL>
<A NAME="meconicacid">
<B>meconic acid,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a white crystalline acid derived from opium. It is used in medicine. </DL>
<A NAME="meconium">
<B>meconium, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a green material discharged from the fetal intestine after birth. </DL>
<A NAME="meconopsis">
<B>meconopsis, </B>noun, pl. <B>-ses.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> any one of a group of plants of the poppy family with a style bearing from four to six radiating stigmas. </DL>
<B>M.Ed.,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> Master of Education. </DL>
<A NAME="medal">
<B>medal, </B>noun, verb, <B>-aled,</B> <B>-aling</B> or (especially British) <B>-alled,</B> <B>-alling.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> a piece of metal like a coin, with a figure or inscription stamped on it, given as an award for achievement or to celebrate an important event. Other medals are sometimes worn to invoke the favor of a saint. <BR> <I>Ex. The captain won a medal for bravery. She won the gold medal for having the highest marks in the school. The medal is in silver and bears on the obverse an effigy of the Queen (London Times).</I> <DD><I>v.t. </I> to decorate or honor with a medal. <BR> <I>Ex. Irving went home, medalled by the king (Thackeray).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="medalformerit">
<B>Medal for Merit,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a decoration given by the United States to a civilian for exceptional or outstanding service to the country. </DL>
<A NAME="medalist">
<B>medalist, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a person who designs or makes medals. <DD><B> 2. </B>a person who has won a medal. </DL>
<A NAME="medallic">
<B>medallic, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> having to do with or like a medal. </DL>
<A NAME="medallion">
<B>medallion, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a large medal. <DD><B> 2. </B>a design or ornament shaped like a medal. A design on a book or a pattern in lace may be called a medallion. <DD><B> 3. </B>(U.S.) <DD><B> a. </B>a license or permit to operate a taxicab, issued in the form of a medallion which is purchased by the licensee. <BR> <I>Ex. A government contract is awarded to the bidder who will best serve the government's interest or to the one who submits the lowest bid. The theory is extended to taxicab medallions and turnpike concessions (Charles A. Reich).</I> <DD><B> b. </B>a taxicab operated with such a license. </DL>
<A NAME="medallioned">
<B>medallioned, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> ornamented with a medallion or medallions; formed into a medallion. </DL>
<A NAME="medallionist">
<B>medallionist, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a maker of medallions. </DL>
<B>Medal of Freedom,</B> <B>=Presidential Medal of Freedom.</B></DL>
<A NAME="medalofhonor">
<B>Medal of Honor,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the highest military decoration of the United States, given by Congress to members of the armed forces for bravery in combat at the risk of their lives and beyond the call of duty. </DL>
<A NAME="medalplay">
<B>medal play,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a form of golf in which the player or side that scores the lowest number of strokes is the winner; stroke play. </DL>
<A NAME="meddle">
<B>meddle, </B>intransitive verb, <B>-dled,</B> <B>-dling.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>to busy oneself with other people's things or affairs without being asked or needed. <BR> <I>Ex. Don't meddle with my books or my toys. That busybody has been meddling in my business.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Obsolete.) to fight; contend. <DD><B> 3. </B>(Obsolete.) to associate; mingle. </DL>
<A NAME="meddler">
<B>meddler, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a person who interferes or meddles. </DL>
<A NAME="meddlesome">
<B>meddlesome, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> likely to meddle in other people's affairs; meddling; interfering. <BR> <I>Ex. He was curious, meddlesome, gossipy (Atlantic).</I> (SYN) officious. adv. <B>meddlesomely.</B> noun <B>meddlesomeness.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="mede">
<B>Mede, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a person who was born or lived in Media, an ancient country in southwest Asia. </DL>
<A NAME="medea">
<B>Medea, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>(Greek Legend.) an enchantress who helped Jason win the Golden Fleece. She eloped with Jason and was later deserted by him. <DD><B> 2a. </B>a play by Euripides. <DD><B> b. </B>the heroine of this play. </DL>
<A NAME="medecade">
<B>me decade,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the decade of the 1970's, as characterized by the obsessive preoccupation of individuals with themselves. <BR> <I>Ex. Broadly, the premise of the "me decade" ... is that great numbers of people are disdaining society to pursue existence as narcissistic massage buffs, om-sayers, encounter groupies and peacocks (Time).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="medevac">
<B>medevac</B> or <B>Medevac, </B>noun, verb, <B>-vacked,</B> <B>-vacking.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S.) <DD><I>noun </I> a helicopter for evacuating the wounded from a combat zone. <DD><I>v.t. </I> to transport by a medevac. </DL>
<A NAME="medfly">
<B>Medfly, </B>noun, pl. <B>-flies.</B> <B>=Mediterranean fruit fly.</B></DL>
